Sprinkler



May 30, 1933. L. R. NELSON 1,911,381

SPRINKLER Filed May 17, 1929 EIiillllllll mllon Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES 12.1?'11111711' R. NELSON, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS SPRINKL-ER Application led May 17,

The present invention relates to sprinklers.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel sprinkler device of the rotary type, such as are used for sprinkling or watering golf greens, lawn surfaces, gardens and the like- The invention comprehends a novel `device adapted to water a maximum area and to constantly operate without attention. In

the rotary type of sprinkler, if a far throw of the water be desired, the sprinkler must rotate slowly, so that as much of the energy as possible in the water stream may be utilized in projecting the stream and as little '15 as possible used in causing the rotation of the sprinkler. When a sprinkler rotates slowly,

the rotative parts generally bind or stick or have such friction that the sprinkler ceases to rotate. To maintain continuous rotation it is necessary to prevent such binding or sticking and one Way to eiect such rotation is to vibrate the sprinkler to destroy' or prevent any tendency of the rotative parts binding or sticking.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel sprinkler of rotative type with means to vibrate the sprinkler and preferably with means for varying or adjusting the vibrating action as also the rate of rotation. By the 3 0 present invention, slow rates of rotation and great throw of water are possible.

In an illustrative embodiment of thel invention, the water is forced through a conduit at the end of which is rotatably mount-- ed a sprinkler head carrying a duct of relatively large diameter and running preferably radially to an upwardly directed discharge nozzle adapted to project the vmain portion of the water stream moving'through 40 the conduit, to a maximum distance, the head also carrying another preferably radially disposed and smaller diameter duct leading to a rotation producing nozzle having a spray oriice or the like and Capable of being ad- ?5 justably set to eii'ect any desired component moment of force about the `axis of rotation of the head, the orifice being also adjustable for projecting the water over an inner area of the area swept by the discharge nozzle previously mentioned.

1929.k Serial No. 363,799.'

Another object of the invention is tol provide an adjustable means, such as an adjustableconnection forv the nozzle of the larger duct, whereby the stream may be projected therefrom at any desired angle to the .axis of the duct, and thus assist in the rotating of the sprinkler.

The invention comprehends means, such as a valve in the duct leading to the spray nozzle, forregulating the vibration of the head and its rotative movement.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a nozzle of novel construction, the elements of which are so designed and arranged that water passing through the nozzle will set up a vibration which is imparted to the head to constantly arit andl prevent it from binding or becoming temporarily fixed in any Aone position. This vibrating action is of iml portance because of the fact that the greatest economy in time and'water consumed is procured when the head is positively and slowly rotated about its axis. Ordinarily, without the vibration, the head would bind or become fixed due tothe friction of the rotating elementat these slower speeds of rotation.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a nozzle of novel construction having a discharge opening at the side and adapted to project a fan shaped spray of water to` vone sideof the nozzle.

In the speciic embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, a nozzle is provided with a longitudinal chamber in whichV isv positioned adiaphragm having an orice therein, and S5 f at one side of the nozzle is a discharge opening communicating with the enlarged longitudinal chamber with another of less diameter.v The discharge opening is adjacent to the end of the chamber of less diameter and is kcut into the side of the chamber angularly and substantially semi-circular to project a 4 fan shaped spray of water to one side of the nozzle. The water passing through the oritice means and into the chambers and through the nozzle causes a vibration ofthenozzle and likewise of the head to prevent the same from binding or becoming fixed when it rotates slowly.

The 4orice inthe vibrator or spraynozzle 10 is so arranged that the water issues therefrom in the form of a spray. By providing means, such as a valve in the passage leading to this nozzle, or an apertured or orificed plate or disc, or both, the pressure of water in ther nozzle outlet chamber is so affected, as by reducing the same, that the water spray issues in large-or coarse drops. The air resistance to the mass of the drops is less for large drops than for smaller drops or particles of the same total mass. The stream with the larger drops will be cast farther and will not be carried away by the wind, as would,V

be the case ifthe drops werereduced to a fine spray or mist. In this way the valve, or apertured disc, or both, regulate the quality of spray, as also the vibration of the sprinkler, the vibration increasing and decreasing with the opening andV closing of the valve or the usinglof a larger or smaller orifice in the disc, or both, respectively.

Also, when partly closing the valve, or reducing the disc orifice, or both, in the smaller limb the flow and pressure `of water is increased in the larger limb with the advantage of the Vstream from the latter covering a greater distance and a greater area. l j.

Another advantage-gained by reduction of flow effected at the valve, or orificed disc,or both, is that the friction and wear between the relatively moving parts, is greatly reduced and the device has a longer` life, as also being more reliable and dependable for correct operation.V 1'

The invention also coniprehends the providing of a nozzle to cause vibrations in the head of a sprinkler either with or without the orilicemeans.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a novel nozzle device comprising a fitting which is adapted to be connected to a water ysupply conduit and which is adapted to adjustably hold a'nozzle. j

Another feature of the invention is to provide a novel nozzle device comprising a fitting Yin which the nozzle maybe adjustablyuconnected to the nozzle fitting.

The invention further comprehends the.

providingof avalve means inthe nozzle fitting, the valve means being constructed so 'asto'seat with the walls' of an inlet conduit fitting into the nozzle fitting, and whichis in communicationwith the water supply conduit.

spray nozzle, thisv` ltering meansjbein'g so related to the duct of the discharge nozzle Vthat the water passing from the water supply l vconduit will self-scouror wipe'gan'd clean the filter or strainer.`

Other objects, advantages, features and capabilities are comprehended by the invenwith parts broken away to showthe filtering or straining means. v

Fig. 2 isa top planyiewof the embodimentillustrating the invention.

F ig. 3 vis avertical cross sectional view taken in the plane represented by the line 34-3 of Fig. 2.

Eig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the plane represented by the line l-t of Fig. 2. l

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the 'areas watered by the respective nozzles on vthe rotating sprinkler head.

Referring now more in particular to the drawing, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention comprises a support 1 which may be either stationary or movable from place to place, and' supporting a water supply pipe2 rotatably mounted on the supp'ort'l. The upper end of the supply pipe 2 discharges into a suitable 'distributing member formed by an elbow 3, having a threaded engagement with said pipe and also threadedly engaged with a laterally extending pipe substantially radial direction and over a f large area as designated as 'A inFig. 5 of the drawing. The nozzle may have anyV suitablecontrol means 6a. It beangularly adjusted by the turning of the ball in the socket 5, to any desired angle. ln this way f the rotative actionv of thel sprinkler may be assisted. A

' The elbow Shas a lateral boss or nipple 7 threaded toreoeive the threaded end of a radially extending pipe or auxiliary conduit 8.

A perforated plat-e 9 substantially thimbleshaped and having flanges 10 adapted to engageshoulders llin the bore of theproj ection 7 and held in place the abutting end ofthe conduit 8, .is provided to filter or strainthev i,

water passing into the conduit 8. This plate or strainerf) projects out'into the bore ofthe velbow 8, and. is so positionedv that the fio'wof water in and through'the elbow together withV the eddying and whirlpool action of thel waterv adjacent to the elbow bend, will provide means for scouring: andfself-flushing and preventing accumulation Vand retention of any sediment or of the strainer.

A fitting 12 which maybe T-sh'ap'ed hasa limb 13 threadedto the outer end of conduit 8 and an oppositely located limb 14 provided stem 17 having a knurled cap or button-'18 other material onthe face with Athreadedbores l5 and laadapte'dto n receive a threaded enlargement lon a valve I einser exterior of the fitting 12. The stem 17 is provide-d at its inner end with a beveled or valve surface 19 adapted to seat with a beveled surface or valve `seat in the inlet 2O in the limb 13 and forming an inlet from the conduit 8 into a chamber 21 in the body portion of the iitting 12. The stem 17 is positioned by a gland 22 acting to compress packing ring 23 for preventing leakage about the stem 17. A washer 24 seats against a. shoulder 25 between bores 15 and 15a and sustains the packing 23. The Vquantity of water passing through the conduit 8 and into the chamber 21 in the fitting 12 may be regulated conveniently by turning and varying the engagement of the end 19 of the stem 17 and the valve seat at inlet 20.

The upper limb or discharge branch 12a of the fitting 12 is threaded to receive a hollow stem member 27 having a reduced diameter portion 27a to form an annular chamber 28`between such portion and the walls of a hub member 29 which is rotatably and slid ably `mounted on the stem 27. The chamber 28 communicates with the chamber 21 through openings 30 in the walls of the hollow stem member, and in turn communicates with a bore or chamber'31 of a discharge nozzle 32. At the upper end of the hollow stem 27 are ears 33 for screwing the threaded end of the stem into the threaded bore of the fitting 12. A gasket or washer 34 is provided between hub 29 and shoulder 35 to prevent leakage therebetween. A similar gasket or washer 36 is provided between hub 29 and limb 12a to prevent leakage around the joint between the hub 29 Vand fitting 12.

The end of the discharge nozzle' 32 is threaded to receive a coupling-nut 37 which is provided with an annular shoulder 38 adapted to engage an annular shoulder 39 of a nozzle tip 40, tohold the nozzle tip in an operative position. A circular diaphragm or disc 41 having a throttling orifice 42 may be interposed bet-Ween the ends of nozzle tip 40 and member 32 and held abutting the same when the coupling nut is tightened.

The nozzle tip 40 has a chamber 43 adj acent to the diaphragm 41 and a chamber 44 of less diameter,at the end of the nozzle and beyond the chamber 43. An opening or port 45 is provided in the side of the nozzle and is cut substantially semi-circular and angularly with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle tip 40. The nozzle tip 40 is adapted to throw V Ior project water out through the opening 45 ina spray-like body to wateror sprinkle an area designated B in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

The vibration of theV head is present with or without the disc 41. In thisconnection, it

will be noted that the discharge port 45 of i the nozzle tip 40 is provided with inclined walls 45a, the surfaces of which tend to check the flow of water, and thereby set up a crertain amount of vibration. However, the

the vstream which materially increases theamount of vibration. j

rIhe hub member/29 is adj ust-able about the stem 27 and likewise the nozzle 40 may be adjustedby the coupling nut 37 These adjustable features of the nozzle device, together with the valve adjustment permit a very close control of the `amount of water passing through the nozzles, the vibrating ac tion of the head, the speed of rotation, and amount of area watered and likewise the quantity of water to Veither area A or B or both.

While I have herein described and upon the drawing illustrated particular embodiments of the invention, itis to be understood that the latter is not limited thereto, but comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A sprinkler device, comprising a head rotatable on a supply pipe, said head having an upward and laterally extending main conduit, an auxiliaryconduit extending laterally from said main conduit and communicating therewith, nozzles at the ends of said conduits, means projecting into the main conduit and associated with said auxiliary conduit for filtering the water passing from said supply pipe to said auxiliary conduit, said means being wiped and cleaned by the flow of water through said main conduit.

2. VInf a sprinkler, a nozzle device comprisingl a fitting having inlet and discharge branches, a hub portion mounted for rotative adjustment upon said discharge branch, and means engaging the interior of said discharge branch for locking said hub portion in any desired rotative adjustment with respect to the fitting, and a radially disposed discharge conduit extending -from said hub member. v

3. -In a sprinkler, a nozzle device comprising a fitting having inlet and discharge branches, a hub member mountedfor rotative adjustment upon said discharge branch, means for 'engaging the interior of the discharge branch for locking said hub member in any desired rotative adjustment with re spect to the fitting, fa radially disposed discharge conduit extending `from said `*hub member at an angle to the horizontal, and a valve controlling. the passage betweenthe two branches of said fitting.

IIC

4. In a sprinkler, a nozzle device comprising a fittingV having inlet and discharge branches, a hub member mounted for rotative adjustment upon said discharge branch, means engaging the interior of said discharge branch for locking said h ub portion in any desired rotative adjustment with respect to the fitting, a radially disposed discharge conduit extending from said hub member and means providing a discharge orifice for said conduit so arranged as to project a spray-like body of water in an angular direction with respectto the axis of said discharge conduit.

5. In a sprinkler, a nozzle device comprising a fitting having inlet and discharge branches, a hub portion mounted for rotative adjustment upon said discharge branch, means engaging the interior ofsaid discharge branch for locking said hub member in any desired rotative adjustment with respect to the fitting, a radially disposed discharge conduit projecting from said hub member, and a nozzle tip adjustably mounted on said conduit and having a discharge orifice positions to project fluid to one side thereof.

6. In a sprinkler, a nozzle device comprising a fitting having inlet and outlet branches, a hollow stem lproj ecting from said discharge branch, a hub member rotatively adjustable on said stem, a discharge conduit projecting from said hub member, and means providing a port for said conduit, so positioned and arranged as to project a spray-like body of water in an angular direction with respect to the axis of said conduit, said stem being adjustable relative to said fitting so as to hold said hub in adjusted positions. v

7. In a sprinkler, a nozzle device comprising a fitting having inlet and outlet branches, a hollow stem projecting from said discharge branch, a hub member rotatably adjustable on said stem, and a discharge conduit leading from said hub member and having a discharge port, said stem having means for` conducting luid from said fitting to the interior of said hub member and also having, a shoulder for clamping said hub member between it and said fitting. v

8. In asprinkler, a nozzle device compris-l ingA a iitting 4having inlet and dischargev branches, a hub member mounted for rotative adjustment upon saidV discharge branch,

means'engaging the interior of said discharge j branch for-locking said hub member in any desired rotative adjustment with respect to said fitting, a radially disposed discharge conduit leading from said hubv member, a

able head providedwith a chamber, main and auxiliary conduits extending from said head and radially `with respect to said head, filtering means projecting from the inlet end of said auxiliary conduit and extendeded transversely into said chamber, so as to be cleansed by the flow of water to the other conduit.

1,0. A sprinkler comprising a rotatably mounted head provided with radially disposed conduits, a discharge nozzle on the outer'end of one of saidconduits, said nozzle having means operable during discharge of water therefrom for applying rotative power i to said head but normally insuiiicientto overcome the resistance to rotation due to binding` of the head, and means carried by the other conduit'for vibrating said head so as to prevent binding thereof and free the same for rotation, said means including a hub member communicating with said last mentioned conduit and a discharge conduit prosaid head but normally insufficient to over- `come the resistance to rotation due to binding` of the head, and means carried by theV other conduit for vibrating said head so as to prevent binding thereof and free the same for rotation, said means including a hub member adjustably mounted on said last mentioned conduit and provided with a dis,- cliarge conduit, a nozzle tip detachably connected with and closing the outer end of said discharger conduit, lsaid-tip having an inclined dischargeslot in its side disposed at an angle with respect to ltheaxis of said discharge conduit, and also having a vibration chamber of less diameter thanjthe bore of said discharge conduit and extended beyond the outer wall of said slot.

`12. A sprinkler comprising a rotatably mounted head provided with radially A disposed conduits, a discharge nozzle on the outer end of one of said conduits, said nozzle having means operable 'duringvdischarge of water therefrom for applying rotative power to said head but normally insuflicient to overcome the resistance to rotation due to binding of the head, and means carried by the i other conduit for vibrating said head so as to prevent binding thereof andfree the same for rotation, said` means including ya discharge conduit, a nozzle tip removably connected withV and closing theouter end of said discharge conduit, said tipvhaving an inclined discharge slot in its side disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said discharge conduit and also having a vibration chamber therein of less diameter than the bore of said discharge conduit and extending beyond the outer wall of said slot, and throttling means interposed between said discharge conduit and said nozzle tip.

13. A sprinkler comprising a rotatably mounted head provided with radially disposed conduits, a discharge nozzle on the outer end of one of said conduits, said nozzle having means operable during discharge of water therefrom for applying rotative power to said head but normally insufficient to overcome the resistance to rotation due to binding of the head, means carried by the other conduit for vibrating said head so as to prevent binding thereof and free the same for rotation, said means including a discharge conduit, means connected with and closing the outer end of the discharge conduit providing an inclined discharge slot for said discharge conduit disp-osed at an angle to the axis of the conduit, said means further providing a vibration chamber beyond the further wall of said slot and having a conical end wall, and means for throttling the flow of l'iuid to said discharge slot, said throttling means including means for controlling the volume of water passing to the vibration chamber, so as to govern the degree of vibration.

14. A sprinkler comprising a rotatably mounted head provided with radially disposed conduits, a discharge nozzle on the outer end of one of said conduits, said nozzle having means operable during discharge of water therefrom for applying rotative power to said head but normally insufficient to overcome the resistance to rotation due to binding of the head, means carried by the other conduit for vibrating said head so as to prevent binding thereof and free the same for rotation, said means including a valve casing, a discharge nozzle communicating with said valve casing and having a discharge orifice positioned to project fluid to one side thereof, means in said casing controlling the volume of liquid flowing to said nozzle, means providing a restricted orifice in said passage between the valve and the orifice, and means providing a vibration chamber positioned beyond the discharge orifice.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my naine to this specification.

LEWEN R. NELSON. 

